“Fifteen percent of the gun crime nationwide involves high-capacity magazines,” Kotowski said. “You can only do so much to limit the amount of violence. What we’re talking about here is reducing the lethality. We’re talking about minimizing the risk associated with weapons.”

Rep. Harry Osterman, D-Chicago, said his motivation for supporting the bill is safety.

“I have two little boys,” he said. “I want to make sure that they grow up in a safe environment.”

Opponents say the bill will hurt the state’s weapons manufacturers.

Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said one of those manufacturers, Les Baer Custom Inc., has already decided to move its operations from his district to Iowa.

“These are manufacturing jobs. These are good jobs,” Jacobs said. “I’ve got 1,800 manufacturing jobs related to gun manufacturing in my district, and I fully expect to lose them all.”

Deer hunting

Deer-hunting hours would be extended under legislation the Senate passed and sent to the governor.

Hunters would be allowed to pursue their quarry until half an hour after sunset, instead of quitting at sunset, as current law requires.

“There’s plenty of light to continue hunting,” said Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, who sponsored the legislation in the Senate. Adding the extra time, he said, would further help to control the burgeoning deer population in Illinois.

The state Department of Natural Resources supported the legislation, Sullivan said.

Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo, told fellow lawmakers that the best times for deer hunting are an hour before and after sunset and sunrise. Under current law, deer hunting can begin half an hour before sunrise.

The legislation passed 54-2. It had previously cleared the House.

Tax exemption

Legislation meant to give a boost to Landmark Aviation in Springfield and other businesses soon will go to the governor for consideration.

The House voted 114-0 for Senate Bill 455, which creates a tax exemption for aircraft that leave the state within 15 days of their purchase. The exemption also would apply for aircraft that are located temporarily in Illinois because of post-sale customization work.

Several other states already offer the tax exemption to aviation companies, officials said. Landmark Aviation, based at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, specializes in refurbishing and remodeling corporate aircraft.

Rep. Rich Brauer, a Petersburg Republican who co-sponsored SB455, said the legislation’s economic development benefits would more than offset any loss of tax dollars.

“Those are good jobs (at Landmark Aviation),” he said. “Those are the jobs that we want in this state.”

The Senate approved the bill in March.

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